Posted: September 4th, 2022

Understanding the bullying cycle; why people who get bullied become bullies

Understanding the bullying cycle; why people who get bullied become bullies
Bullies, victims, and bully-victims are all involved in the bullying process. Bullies perpetrate the act, and victims are the receivers of the actions. Bully-victims bully others, and they are bullied too. All these three categories of people have psychological issues; bully-victims are the most affected.
There are certain behaviors and environmental characteristics that contribute to their actions. Bullies are aggressive, manipulative, and harsh; they lack compassion and empathy. Most of them come from family backgrounds that always have conflicts. Victims are timid, and they feel rejected, while bully-victims are both aggressive and vulnerable.
Bully-victims were first victims before they graduated to become bullies. Although there are victims who remain victims throughout their lives, most of them turn to bullies. Anger, revenge, and yearning to repossess power turn victims to bullies. When one is victimized, they are filled with bitterness. People who are filled with anguish are mean to others.
Bullying makes one feel weak, hopeless, and powerless. It robs off the self-esteem of an individual. Victims became bullies to repossess the power they lost. They feel confident and powerful when they do it. Also, victims became bullies to retaliate. Instead of meekly admitting to being bullied, they aggressively fight back as a form of revenge. Sometimes they end up hurting those who did not hurt them.
Most bullies end up being bullies in the future. They have poor problem-solving skills. They learn these habits from parents and mentors. Children who are bullied at home are likely to express their frustrations by bullying others at school. The behavior of bullies can change by adjusting the environment.
Teachers, peers, and parents should work together to eradicate bullying. Teachers should train students about good peer relations and problem-solving skills. Parents should be taught about appropriate behavior. At times the parent may not even know that a child is copying harmful actions, such as looking down at employees and humiliating them.
The bullying cycle begins with the bully. Without a bully, there could be no victim or bully-victim. Victims become bullies and bully-victims, and the cycle continues. In Singapore, adolescents who are cyber bullied also bully others as a form of revenge. They use the same tactics and identify weaker targets. Using appropriate interventions can help curb bullying. School administrators should work together with parents and religious institutions to control it. Bullying has adverse physical, mental, and psychological effects on the victim.
References
Ma, Xin. “Bullying and being bullied: To what extent are bullies also victims?.” American Educational Research Journal 38.2 (2001): 351-370.
Roberts Jr, Walter B., and Allan A. Morotti. “The bully as victim: Understanding bully behaviors to increase the effectiveness of interventions in the bully-victim dyad.” Professional School Counseling 4.2 (2000): 148.

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